Checking device for horses.



: 1 PATENTED Aumzs, 1904.

F. RUDOLPH. CHECKING DEVICE FOR HORSES;-

LPPLIOATION FILED DEC. 31. 1903.

30 MODEL.

witweooco Patented August 23, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK RUDOLPH, OF LINCOLN, ILLINOIS.

CHECKING DEVICE FOR HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N10. 768,078, dated August 23, 1904. Application filed December 31, 1903. Serial No. 187,338. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK RUDOLPH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Logan and State of Illinois, have invented a Checking Device for Horses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in harness, and more especially to the class of checking devices.

The objects of the invention are to provide 7 a checking device which is peculiarly adapted for application to driving and racing horses for the purpose of holding the horses nose upward and forward to give a proper carriage to the head, as Well as prevent in a positive manner such tricks as side pulling and tossing of the head, bit-fighting, and choking in an attempt to catch the bit between the back teeth.

With the above objects in view the invention consists of a check-bar which is disposed longitudinally above the horses head and extends from the nose rearward between the ears and a suitable distance in the rear of the latter, providing practically a lever which is fulcrumed at an intermediate point and is connected at its forward end to the mouth of the horse and at its rear end to a strap attached to the saddle, the several connections being adjustable to accommodate the device to horses of diiferent sizes, all as will be hereinafter fully described in the following specification and more specificallyset forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view illustrating the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged-detail view of the checking device. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the bridge, by means of which the check-bar is fulcrumed on the horses head. Fig. 4: is a detail view of the bit-carrier, which is attached to the front end of the check-bar.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention I employ in the first instance a' check bar or lever A and to the forward end of the same attach a metal yoke B, having terminal eyes 6. To this yoke is removably connected a bit 0, the end plates 0 of which are provided with key-shaped lugs 'the yoke the bit is adjustable thereon.

"harn ess-saddle.

0, adapted to engage keyhole-slots b in the aforesaid yoke and by which said bit is hingedly connected to said yoke. To the lower end of the end plates 0 of the bit is attached a chin-strap D, as is usual, and at the same point it is also purposed to connect the reins, as e.

' By. providing two sets of keyhole-slots in This device therefore not only connects the lever -A to the horses mouth, but also provides an effective 'bit for driving the horse, and when applied the side pieces of the bridle are attached directly to the eyes 5 of the yoke, as shown in Fig. 1. 1

The check bar or lever at a suitable distance from its forward end is fulcrumed between the ears ff of a bridge F, which latteris attached to the horses head by means of a strap f. The bridge is composed of metal side pieces f f which are integral with the ears f and are covered. with leather and may be padded on the under side, as at f so as not to chafe. The bolt, as g, by which the check bar or lever A is fulcrumed may be passed through'any one of aseriesof holes a in said bar to locate the fulcrum-point at any desired distance from the nose of the horse, as

well as permit the bridge to be attached to the horses head at the most convenient part. A strap H is secured to the upper part of the bridge F and extends rearwardly therefrom, being attached, as shown in the drawings, to the brow-band of the bridle and to the saddle.

The check bar or lever A extends in a line with the horses head and slightly upward,

and to its rear end is connected a strap I,

which latter at its other end carries a loop 2', by which it is connected to the hook J of the The connection between the strap I and loop c' is by means of a ring 71, and the said strap is looped through the ring and provided with a buckle, so that the length of the strap may be conveniently adjusted,

and thereby determine the horses head. v

When the divice is applied as shown in Fig. 1 and the strap I properly adjusted, the

position of the horse will be compelled to'hold his head up with his nose straight out, giving a carriage to the head that will fully open the throat and dicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Obviously other changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention and within the spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a checking device for horses, the combination, of a bridge attached to the horses head, a bar intermediately fulcrumed on said bridge, a yoke attached to the forward end of the bar, and means carried by the yoke for attachment to the horses mouth; together with a strap attached to the rear end of the bar, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a checking device for horses, the combination, of a bridge attached to the horses head, a bar intermediately fulcrumed on said bridge, a yoke and bit attached to the forward end of the bar, and a strap attached to the rear end of the bar.

3. In a checking device for horses, the combination, of a bridge attached to the horses head and providing a pair of ears above the horses head, a check bar or lever fulcrumed between said cars, a yoke secured to the forward end of the bar, and means carried by the yoke for attachment to the horses mouth; together with a strap or connection between the rear end of the bar and the harness-saddle, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a checking device for horses, the combination, of a bridge attached to the horses head and providing a pair of ears above the horses head, a check bar or lever having a series of holes by which it is adjustably connected to said cars, a yoke secured to the forward end of the bar, and a loop secured to the rear end thereof; together with an attaching device carried by the yoke, and a strap attached to the bridge and to the browband of the bridle, from which it extends to and is attached to the harness-saddle.

5. In a checking device for horses, the combination, of a bar or lever, a yoke secured to the front end thereof, a bit the side plates of which are hingedly connected at their upper ends to said yoke and at their lower ends provided with eyes to which latter the reins are attached, abridge attached to the horses head and to which the lever is fulcrumed in the rear of the yoke, and a strap connected to the rear end of the lever and to the harnesssaddle.

6. In achecking device for harness,the combination with the bridle, of a bar or lever A, a yoke B secured to the forward end thereof and having keyhole-slots l) and eyes I), the latter at the lower end thereof, a bit 0 the side plates of which are provided at their upper ends with key-shaped lugs adapted to engage the keyhole-slots in the yoke, a bridge attached to the horses head and provided above the latter with ears between which the lever is fulcrumed, a strap connected to the rear end of the lever and to the harness-saddle, and a strap extending from the bridge to the browband of the bridle and to the lnirness-saddle, substantially as herein shown and deserihml. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK HUI )OLll l.

Witnesses:

JAs. E. JE\\'] 1'I"1, A. D. UADWALLADER. 

